H k lorentzen



Aug 8, 1939- H. K4 LQRENTZEN Re. 21,174

MOUNTING FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed March 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 gy-1I 3 INVENTOR: I r y fw.lofefrefo Aug- 8, 1939. H. K. LoRENTzl-:N Re. 21,174

MOUNTING FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Original Filed March 14, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.-

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I lads-ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 8, 1939- H. K. LoRr-:NTZEN MOUNTING FOR VENETIAN BLlNDS Original Filed March 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR: ,bmlarerzizwz m, M4* f 5: his A TTORNEYS Reued Aug. 8, 1939 Re 21,114v

MOUNTING FOR YENETIAN BLIN'DS Hans K. Lorentzen,.Montclair, N. J., assignor to Lorentxen Hardware Manufacturing Corp.,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original No. 2,083,334, dated June 8, 1937, Serial No. 68,809, March 14, 1936.

Application for reissue June 7, 1939, Serial No. 277,931

16 Claims. (Ci. 156-17) This invention relates broadly to Venetian blinds and particularly to brackets for mounting the head-bars of Venetian blinds.

A Venetian blind consists of various slats and operating mechanism, all of which aresuspended from, or carried by, a head-bar that is mounted 'at the top of the window. Sometimes the headbar is mounted inside of the window frame, and other times it is mounted across the face or front of the window frame. Generally speakina', dierent brackets, are' required for the two positions of mounting? and the brackets have to be paired, one right-hand bracket and one lefthand bracket, to take care of the two ends of the bar. Thus the .bracket manufacturers 'and the blind installers have been compelled to make and stock a multiplicity of diierent 'brackets and bracket parts.

An object of the present invention isgto provide Venetian blind mounting brackets of such construction that the same bracket can be used to mount the head-bar either within the window frame or across the face of the window frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide Venetian blind mounting brackets of such construction that all of the bracket parts, or the major portion of them, are reversible to enable the same parts to be used for, or in the assembly of, both right-hand and left-hand brackets.

A further object of the invention is to provide satisfactory and reliable Venetian blind mounting brackets which can be readily and economically stamped from sheet metal.

While a number of specific forms of the invention will be disclosed, it should be noted that certain majorparts areeither identical, or similar, in quite a number of the different forms.

Fig. I of the drawings is an isometric view of a complete head-bar bracket embodying the present invention. The bracket is one assembled for left-hand mountingand includes a lefthand retainer stamping.

tion through a head-bar supported on a bracket installed as a left-hand bracket, the bracket appearing primarily in side elevation.

Fig. VA is a rear elevation of the main stamping shown in Fig. V.

Fig. VI is a vertical section takemon the line VI-VI of Fig. V.

Fig. VII illustrates 'a third form of the invention. The view'is a side elevation of certain bracket parts assembled as in left-hand mounting. A

Fig. VIII is a bottom plan view of the hook member shown in Fig. VII.

Fig. IX illustrates `a'fo-urthfiorm of the invention. 'I'he view is a side elevation of certain bracket parts assembled as in left-hand mount- Fig. X (sheet l) is an isometric view showing a fifth form of bracket embodying the present inused in conjunction with the supporting bracket of Fig. XIV.

Fig. XVI is a plan view, with parts broken away, showing the elements of Figs. )UV and XV mounted and supporting a head-bar.

Fig. XVII is a vertical section taken on the line XVII-XVII oi Fig. XVI.

Figures I to XIV Designated as a whole by I is a one-piece sheet metal stamping, which is .the main part that enters into most of the specic forms of the invention herein disclosed. This stamping has a planar body 2 formed with legs 3 and I which are of equal length and extend at right angles to each other. The legs have outside edges 3F and Il which are also perpendicular to each other and correspond in general to the legs of an isosceles right triangle. Four wings 5, 6, 1, and 8 are stamped integrally with the body 2 and all project at right angles to the body on the same side thereof.. Each of these wings is perforated, as shown, to receive mounting screws, such as screws S, to mount the bracket on the front or face of a window frame. In case the bracket is to be mounted inside of. the window frame the screws will be inserted through holes h in the body 2.

Each of the legs 3 and 4 is provided with a small hook 9, struck out from the metal of the leg, The body 2 is provided with a round hole III which has its center on a line bisecting the angle formed by legs 3 and 4 (or edges 3a and 4a) Preferably this hole III is so stamped that the displaced metal is formed into a short tube III' which has one end integral with the body 2. 'Ihis short tube can then be made to serve as a tubular rivet, as will be referred to later. Positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of a line bisecting the angle of the legs, are rectangular holes I I It will be seen that all of the elements thus far described are part of a single metal stamping I and that the stamping is symmetrical about a line which bisects the angle formed by the edges 3*i and 4*". Thus, this stamping can be reversed for either right-hand or left-hand mounting. When mounted left-hand as indicated in Fig. I, the wings 1 and 8 are available for attachment to the upright front surface of a window frame, while the wings 5 and '6 are available to support the top bar I2. When the stamping I is mounted right-hand as shown in Fig. III, the wings 5 and 6 are available for attachment to the upright front surface of the window frame, while wings 1 and 8 are available to support Ithe top bar. In either right-hand or left-hand position the holes Vh. may be used to attach the bracket inside of the window frame.

A sheet metal arm I3 has a laterally extending end portion I3n and a reversely extending tip I3b. Aixed to the end I3 is a cross-head I4 of the form shown. A pin I5, biased inwardly by a spring I6, forms a yielding attachment for the cross-head I4 and permits the cross-head to be forcibly withdrawn from end I3l for a slight distance. One end of the cross-head is formed into a knurled thumb piece I4", and the other end is formed into a rounded nose I4". The inner end of the arm I3 is pivotally secured to stamping I at hole III. This pivotal attachment is of a hollow rivet type, and may be made with an ordinary type of hollow rivet. Preferably, however, the metal displaced from hole IIJ is formed into an integral short tube (as previously described) and this tube is used as a hollow rivet to secure arm I3.

Fig, III clearly shows how cross-head I4 acts as a retaining finger to hold the head-bar I2 against accidental forward movement. This iigure also shows how arm I3 can be shifted from one leg of stamping I to the other leg thereof, to permit either right-hand or left-hand mounting of the bracket. Cross-head I4 is provided with two punch marks I4 which make small projections on the back side of the cross-head. Arm end I3*l has two pairs of small holes, as II3 and 2I3 in Fig. VI. Each of these pairs of holes corresponds to punch marks I4, one pair of such holes being below pin I5 and the other pair being above pin I5. When the parts are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. III, the punch marks I4 enter the lower pair of holes in arm end I3, and hold the cross-head I4 in a vertical position. -Howeveruby forcibly moving the cross-head a short distance away from arm end I3, the crosshead may be inverted on pin I5 (per the arrow in Fig. VI) to the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. III. Punch marks I4 then enter the other pair of holes in arm end I3a and hold the crossarm in the new position, Arm I3 is suiiciently resilient to permit it to be flexed sidewise (after being raised above hook 3) and swung past hooks 9 into operative position on the other leg of stampingl. 'I'hus the supporting bracket (including stamping I, arm I3, and cross-head I4) is completely reversible for either right-hand or left-hand mounting Fig. II shows a separate sheet metal stamping, designated as a whole by I1, which is used as a part of each complete bracket, to act as a retainer which holds Ithe top bar against backward, upward, and endwise movement. These stampings I1 are made both right and left-hand, a righthand one being used with the supporting bracket I which is mounted at the right end of bar I2, and a left-hand one being used with the supporting bracket I which is mounted at the left end of bar I2. A right-hand retainer is shown in Fig. II and a left-hand retainer in Fig. I, but for the sake of convenience, the same reference characters will be used for both right-hand and left-hand retainers.

Retainer I1 includes a flat portion I8 which has a hole I8a so positioned that when the retainer is assembled in a bracket, the hole I8a aligns with the hole of the rivet at I0 (see Fig. III). A small nger I9 is adapted to enter one of the bracket holes II, depending upon whether the assembly is being made for right-hand or left-hand mounting. At right angles to the portion I8 there is another portion 20 perforated at 20". The hole 2li8L is adapted to align with the hole in either bracket 6 or 1, depending upon whether the stamping I is being used right-hand or left-hand. Above portion I8 there is flat portion 22 which is oiset outwardly to lie flush with the outer surface of stamping I. Above the portion 20 there is a portion 23 which is oiset for- Wardly to space the blind away from the window. Bent from portion 23 is a horizontal member 24 which holds bar I2 down. Between portions I8 and 22 there is a notch 25, of the form shown. providing a projection 2B. When the retainer I1 is assembled with the bracket I as shown in Fig. I, the projection 26 enters the slot P in either wing 6 or 1. When the bracket is to be mounted on the front of a window frame, upper screw S (Fig. III passes-through hole 2U (as well as through the Wing of stamping I) thereby holding the parts in the assembled position, as is best shown Y in Fig. I. When the bracket is mounted inside of va window frame, a screw is inserted through hole I8* and the hole of the rivet at I0, to similarly hold the parts together.

It will be seen that the foregoing construction provides for complete right-hand and left-hand brackets; and that with the exception of retainer I1, all parts are reversible for either right-hand or left-hand mounting. Since retainer I1 is the only part which has to be separately manufactured and stocked in rights and lefts, the construction provides a very considerable economy in tools, dies, and stock.

Figs V and VI 'I'he construction shown in these gures duplicates the construction shown in Figs. I to IV except for a change in the arm which carries cross-head I4 -and a slight optional modification of the main bracket stamping. The cross-head I4, arm end I3, pin I5, and spring I6 are al1 identical with the construction shown in Figs. I to IV. However, the body of the arm, designated at I3', is provided with notches N and the arm is not fxedly attached to the main stamping. designated as 4a. whole by l'. The arm- Il' is telescopically applied to the leg of stamping I', so that the rounded end of the arm projects behind portion I6 of retainer I1 and one of the notches N interlocks with hook 9. When the arm Il' is to be applied to a bracket of opposite hand, the cross-head I4 is inverted as previously described and as indicated' in Fig. VI; and then a notched N on the opposite edge of arm I3' functions to interlock with the other hook 9.

Main bracket stamping I may be identical with stamping I, but preferably diiers therefrom by having narrow laterally projecting ledges L which extend between wings 5 and 6 and also between wings 1 and B. Such a ledge provides a convenient sliding surface for the end of arm Il as the arm is telescoped to the position shown in Fig. V. The provision of a plurality of notches N on each side of arm I3', adapts the construction for holding different widths of head-bar I2.

Figs. VII and VIII The main bracket stamping I' is identical with stamping I' of Fig. V. Arm I3" may differ from arm I3 only in that the inner end is formed into a hook R. This hook R. permits the arm to be conveniently suspended from hook 9, in the position shown in dotted lines, while the head-bar is being removed or replaced. If desired arms I3" may be manufactured in pairs, as right and lefts, so that hook R. will point downwardly on both right-hand brackets and left-hand brackets, but that is not essential. It will, of course, be understood that arm end I3* is to be provided with a cross-head I4, as previously; and that a retainer I1 may be used with the bracket.

Fig. IX

lIhe main bracket stamping I is identical with the stamping I in Fig. I. Ailixed to one leg of the stamping is a flat headed pin 36; and the arm Il'" is formed with a keyhole slot 3l which permits the arm to be reciprccated on pin Il and be engaged and disengaged from the pin. End Il' of the arm IJ" is the same as the end I3'L in previous forms of the invention, and it will be understood that a cross-head I4 is to be aillxed thereto as previously described. Also a retainer I1 is preferably used as in previous forms of the invention. Of course, the pin 3l may be duplicated on the other leg of stamping I to permit the arm I3" to be transferred to the other leg.

Figs. X and XI Stamping 35 has two perpendicular legs and is provided with wings 36, 31, Jl and 35. As shown in the drawings, the wings 31 and 3l are provided with round screw holes, and the wings 36 and 39 are provided with keyhole slots. The bracket may be secured to the face oi' a window frame by screws passed through wings 36 and 3l.

A single screw 40, having a shoulder 4I, may be` used to secure the head bar I2 to the bracket. When the head bar is in place -on the bracket, shoulder 4I enters the circular portion of the keyhole slot in wing 36 and secures the head bar against movement. However, by merely loosening the screw slightly, the shank of the screw may be passed through the slotted portion of the keyhole opening and the bar removed fromv the bracket without removing the screw from the bar. Stamping 35 may also be provided with holes 42 for mounting the bracket inside of awindow frame. It will be noted that the bracket is symmetrical about a line which bisects the angle of the legs and that therefore the bracket is reversible for either right-hand or left-hand mounting.

Figs. XII and XIII Bracket stamping I" is similar to, but not identical with, the. stamping I 'previously described. One leg of the stamping has an upwardly extending brace or clamping portion 43; and on this leg there is welded a strap 44 having a spring iinger45. This strap provides a loop which retains a reciprocable clamping member 46. Clamping member 46 is provided with a lower lateral extension 46* which may be grasped to reciprocate the clamping member, and is provided with an upper lateral extension 46b which enters the groove in the top of the head bar I2 and secures the head-bar to the bracket. 'I'he stationary clamp-bearing portion 43 serves to support the upper vertical part of clamping member A 46 against outward bending or flexing.

Preferably clamping member 46 is provided with a recess or aperture 45, which is placed beneath the spring finger 45 while the strap 44 is being welded to the stamping I". This arrangement relieves the tension of spring finger 45 during the welding operation and thereby makes it easier to hold the parts in position for welding. Also aperture 46 permits the spring 45 to be relieved of tension while the bracket is in stock. Optionally, clamping member 46 may also be provided with one or more other recesses or apertures 46d into one of which spring nger 45 snaps when the clamp 46 is in bar-clamping position.

With this form 'of the invention, members 44 and 46 are reversible for the assembly of righthand and left-hand brackets. but the finished brackets must be made as rights and lefts. The particular main stamping shown at I is also not reversible, but va reversible stamping, such as stamping I (Fig. I) may be substituted, if desired.

Figs. XIV t XVII With this form of the invention the head-bar I2 is supported on brackets which are designated as a whole by 50. Only a left-hand bracket is illustrated, but it will be understood that the brackets are made as rights and left's. The bracket has a planar body I. provided with holes 52 for inside mounting. `Wings 53 provide for front mounting. At the top of the bracket there is a horizontal shelf 54 having a series of holes 55. Secured to the underside of bar I2 is a metal stamping having a horizontal portion 56 and a depending portion 51. Carried by the horizontal portion is a counterweighted latch 56.

With the latch 56 held out of the way, the bar I2 can be put on,'or taken off of, the bracket. The depressed end of portion 56 slides beneath shelf 54, and when the latch 56 is released it may readily be engaged in one of the holes 55. 'I'his construction permits ready adjustability of the position of the head-bar to place the blind at different distances from the window.

Depending portion 51 is preferably so made that it will receive and support the tilt bar (not shown) of the blind andthe blind tilting mechanism. Such mechanism is indicated diagram- 'matically at 59. As the interlocking fittings at the two ends of the tilt bar may be different, the members having depending portions 51 may be manufactured as rights and lefts to provide the desired supporting formations at the two ends of the bar. 4

In compliance with the patent statutes, I have disclosed the best forms in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, but it will be understood that these forms are illustrative only.

What is claimed is:

- 1. In a bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, a one-piece sheet metal stamping which is turnable for right-hand or left-hand mounting, said stamping comprising: a planar body having two outside edges which are of equal length and perpendicular to each other, and four wings positioned respectively adjacent to the four ends of said two perpendicular edges, all of the wings extending perpendicular to the body on, the same side thereof, and the entire stamping being operatively symmetrical about a line bisecting the angle formed by said two outside edges whereby the stamping may be mounted either right-hand or left-hand; and head-bar retaining means carried by said planar body and shiftable into operative position to retain the head-bar whether the bracket be mounted right-hand or left-hand.

2, In a bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, a one-piece sheet metal stamping comprising: a planar body having two outside edges which are of equal length and are perpendicular to each other, and Wings projecting from said edges, all of the Wings being perpendicular to said body and on the same side thereof, and there being mounting holes in the body and also in at least some of the wings whereby the bracket may be mounted either on the front or the jamb of a window frame; a pin attached to the body and located on a line bisecting the angle formed by said .outside edges; and head-bar retaining means mounted on the pin and shiftable into operative position with respect to either outside edge of the stamping whereby the bracket may be mounted' either right-hand or left-hand.

3. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a planar body having two perpendicular legs of equal length; wings projecting laterally from -each of the legs, the wings of either leg being adapted to mount the bracket on a vertical frame while the wings of the other leg support the head-bar; bar .retaining means movable into and out of position to hold a head bar mounted on the bracket; and means on each of said legs to support the bar retaining means in bar holding position, the bar holding means being shiftable to operative position on either of said legs to permit the bracket to be mounted either right-hand or left-hand.

4. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a metal body having two perpendicular legs either of which may be positioned vertically to mount the bracket while the other extends horizontally to support a head-bar, a movable arm, means to retain the arm adjacent to either of said legs, and a barretaining nger attached to said arm, the arm being shiftable from one of said legs to the other and the nger being invertible on the arm, to permit the bracket to be mounted either righthand or left-hand.

5. In a structure for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, a retainer piece having portions to engage the end and back of the bar, and a bracket for supporting the bar, the bracket being turnable for either right-hand or left-hand mounting and having means to receive either a right-hand or a left-hand retainer piece.

6. In a structure for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind; a retainer piece of stamped sheet metal having portions to engage the end,

back, and top of a head-bar; and a bracket of stamped sheet metal having two perpendicular legs, the bracket being formed to interflt with a retainer piece and being operatively symmetrical about a line bisecting the angle formed by its legs, whereby the bracket may be mounted either right-hand or left-hand and receive either a right-hand retainer piece or a left-hand retainer plece.

7. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising; a sheet metal stampy ing having a vertical edge and a horizontal edge, a sheet metal strap secured to said stamping, the strap having an integral spring finger; and a vertically movable bar-clamping member secured by said strap, said spring flnger engaging said bar-clamping member and restraining movement thereof.

A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a sheet metal stamping having two perpendicular legs and a. clampbearing portion projecting from one of the legs, a sheet metal strap secured in alignment with said clamp-bearing portion, and a bar-clamping member retained by said strap, the bar-clamping member extending in the direction of said clampbearing portion and being reciprocable in such direction.

9. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, the bracket being turnable for right-hand or left-hand mounting and comprising: a metal body having two perpendicular legs; an arm pivoted at one end to the body by a pivot located on a line bisecting the angle formed by the legs, the arm being shiftable from one leg to the other and there being retaining means for the arm on each of the legs; and a head attached to the free end of the arm, the head extending on both sides of the arm.

l0. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, the bracket being turnable for right-hand or left-hand'mountingl and comprising: a metal body having two perpendicular legs; an arm pivoted at one end to the body by a pivot located on a line bisecting the angle formed by the legs, the arm being shiftable from one leg 'i to the other and there being retaining means for the arm on each of the legs; and a head yieldingly attached to the free end of 'the arm, the head projecting upwardly from the arm and being invertible thereon.

ll. A structure for removably mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a bracket having a horizontal shelf to support one end of the head-bar; a member to be permanently attached to the under side of the head-bar; and a biased catch carried by said member, the catch being positioned to pass under said shelf and the shelf being formed to interlock with the catch.

12. A structure for removably mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a bracket having a horizontal shelf to support one end of the head-bar; a member to be permanently attached to the head-bar; and a biased catch carried by said member, the catch being positioned to engage said shelf and the shelf having a series of holes any one of which may receive the catch.

13. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a planar body having two perpendicular legs of equal length; wings projecting laterally from each of the legs, the wings of either leg being adapted to mount the bracket on a vertical frame while the wings of the other leg support the head-bar; and. headbar retaining means movable into and outof position to hold a head-bar mounted on the bracket, said retaining means being shiftable to operative position on either of said legs to permit the bracket to be mounted either right-hand or left-hand.

14t A bracket for `mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a metal body having two perpendicular legs either of which may be positioned vertically to mount the bracket While the other extends horizontally to support a head-bar, a movable arm, means to retain the arm adjacent to either of said legs, and a barretaining linger attached to said arm, the arm being shiftable from one of said legs to the other to permit the bracket to be mounted either righthand or left-hand.

15. A bracket for mounting the head-bar of a Venetian blind, comprising: a. sheet metal stamp- .the arm being shiftable on the pivot from one leg to the other and there being retaining means for the arm on each of the legs; and a lateral extension on the end of the arm to engage a head-bar supported by the bracket.

HANS K. LORENTZEN. 

